Rosa hybrida shrub named ‘AUStulliver’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUStulliver’. The ‘AUStulliver’ is a variety of a rose shrub having a slightly arching growth with large clusters of neat, deeply-cupped blooms held above glossy foliage that are initially mid-pink and that pale as they open with individual petals having a darker pink edge revealing a small boss of stamens, and having a sweet fruity fragrance.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridashrub of the market class ‘English Rose’.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘AUStulliver’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to UK Varietal Plant Patent5/2138, filed Sep. 21, 2018.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUStulliver’, which was originated from the cross-pollination ofthe two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a bushy rosevariety having a slightly arching growth with large clusters of neat,deeply-cupped blooms held above glossy foliage that are initiallymid-pink and that pale as they open with individual petals having adarker pink edge revealing a small boss of stamens, and having a sweetfruity fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherspresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: a bushy, arching growththat has glossy foliage and is highly disease resistant and having neat,deeply-cupped blooms held in large clusters with a sweet fruityfragrance.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed atBowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing andother distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUStulliver’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on an unpatented plant/rootstock Rosa dumetorum‘Laxa’ for the observed plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The maternal and paternal parents of ‘AUStulliver’ are two unnamedseedlings. The new rose may be distinguished from its maternal parent,by the following combination of characteristics: the maternal parent hasflatter, rosette-shaped flowers and a stiffer growth that is lessdisease resistant than ‘AUStulliver’. The new rose may be distinguishedfrom its paternal parent, by the following combination ofcharacteristics: the paternal parent has single flowers and is muchtaller than ‘AUStulliver’.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the‘AUSrumba’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,500). The bloom form of ‘AUSrumba’ isa shallow cup with a broader bloom, whereas ‘AUStulliver’ has a deepercup with smaller breadth. The petal color of ‘AUSrumba’ is blush pink,whereas ‘AUStulliver’ is a pale pink with deeper pink on the edges. Thefoliage of ‘AUSrumba’ is matt, whereas ‘AUStulliver’ is glossy. Anothersimilar variety is ‘AUSbreeze’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,962), but whilethe pink color of both is similar, ‘AUSbreeze’ does not have the darkpink edge to the petals displayed in ‘AUStulliver’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Observations of budded ‘AUStulliver’ specimens were made at the nurseryat David Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, UnitedKingdom. The following description is of 5 year-old rose plants of thenew variety grown in a garden environment in Albrighton, Britain in themonth of June. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental,cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditionsof light and soil.

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the    growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 2.5 cm long and 1.8 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is pointed ovoid and broad-based.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, the bud color is RHS 36C            (red group) with RHS 58C (red-purple group). When half            blown, the upper sides of the petals are RHS 36C (red            group), and the lower sides of the petals RHS 36C (red            group) and RHS 58C (red-purple group).        -   Calyx.—Shape: opens to a star shape, with the sepals folding            back against the stems. Length: 3 cm. Diameter: 1.3 cm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Regularly arranged. Color: Upper            Surface: RHS 191B (grayed-green group). Lower Surface: RHS            146A (yellow-green group) with RHS 184B (grayed-purple            group). Length: 3 cm. Width: 1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Surface texture: Upper Surface: Downy. Lower Surface:            Smooth. Number: There are 3 normally appendaged sepals, and            2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges. Sepal Extensions:            Are medium.        -   Receptacles.—Color: RHS 146B (yellow-green group) with RHS            184B (grayed-purple group). Shape: Apple. Size: Medium,            about 1.2 cm long×0.9 cm wide. Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, averaging about 12 cm. Surface:            Smooth. Color: RHS 146B (yellow-green group) with some RHS            184B (grayed-purple group). Strength: Normal.-   Blooms:    -   -   Size.—Medium, average open diameter is about 7 cm.        -   Borne.—In clusters of approximately 10-15 blooms, the            inflorescence having a rounded shape.        -   Stems.—Strength: Normal, average length is about 80 cm.            Diameter: 6 mm.        -   Form.—When first open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom:            retains its form to the end.        -   Flower type.—Double.-   Petalage: Number of petals under normal conditions: 100.    -   -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are RHS 69C (red-purple            group) with a darker pink edge of RHS 68A (red-purple            group). The reverse sides of the petals are RHS 69C            (red-purple group) with a darker pink edge of RHS 68A            (red-purple group). The base of the petals has a yellow spot            RHS 4C (yellow group).        -   Variegations.—None.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is RHS 68A (red-purple group), and at the end of the            third day is RHS 69C (red-purple group).        -   Fragrance.—Moderate. Character of fragrance: Fruity.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 2.5 cm. Length: 3.4 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Entire with medium undulations and reflexing.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Form.—Incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Regular, with a button eye.        -   Petaloids.—Number: 15-20. Color: RHS 69C (red-purple group).            Length: 2 cm. Width: 0.6 cm. Shape: As petal shape but            deformed to varying degrees. Margin: Entire.        -   Persistence.—Petals drop off cleanly before drying.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: Fair about 5 days. As a cut            flower: not tested.-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: approximately 6-10. Length: 6 mm.        -   Anthers.—Length: 2 mm. Color: RHS 13B (yellow-orange group).            Arrangement: Mixed with petaloids.        -   Filaments.—Color: RHS 17A (yellow-orange group). Length: 4            mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 17A (yellow-orange group). Amount:            Scarce.        -   Pistils.—Number: Approximately 40. Length: 8 mm.        -   Styles.—Color: RHS 38B (red group). Length: 7 mm.        -   Stigmas.—Color: RHS 22A (yellow-orange group). Length:            approximately 7 mm.        -   Hips.—NONE Observed.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

-   Plant form: Shrub.-   Plant growth: Vigorous and semi-upright.-   Age to maturity: 2 years.-   Mature plant: Height: 140 cm. Width: 120 cm.-   Rootstock: Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ for the observed plants.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5 (including            terminal leaflet).        -   Size.—Large, about 18.5 cm long×14 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Number of leaves per flowering stem is:            10.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: RHS 146A (yellow-green            group). Lower side: RHS 146B (yellow-green group) with RHS            184B (grayed-purple group). Old foliage: Upper side: RHS            137A (green group). Lower side: RHS 146B (yellow-green            group).-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 8 cm long×4.8 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Pointed oval.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Glossiness.—Strong        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single.        -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 148A (yellow-green group). Length: 5 cm.            Width: 2 mm. Surface Texture: Slightly glandular.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: RHS 148A (yellow-green group).            Underside: with prickles.        -   Stipules.—Length: 3.3 cm, glandular. Color: RHS 146A            (yellow-green group).        -   Auricle.—Shape: Lanceolate. Length: 1 cm. Width: 1-2 mm.            Color: RHS 146A (yellow-green group).        -   Vein color.—Color: RHS 137A (green group).        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: RHS 184B (grayed-purple group). Bark:            Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: RHS 146A (yellow-green group). Bark:            Smooth.-   Branching habit:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Dimensions.—Length: 90 cm. Diameter: 8 mm.-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 90 cm. Diameter: 8 mm.        -   Internode distance.—9 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.        -   Stem pubescence present.—No.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Few. Number per stem            length: 12 per 20 cm mainly in bottom third of stem. On            laterals from main canes: Few. Number per stem length: 10            per 20 cm mainly in bottom third of stem.        -   Form.—Deep concave.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Color when young.—RHS 184B (grayed-purple group).        -   Color when mature.—RHS 177B (grayed-orange group).-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Main stalk: None. Laterals: None.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa).—Resistant.        -   Downy mildew (Peronospora species).—Resistant.        -   Blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae).—Resistant.        -   Rust (Phragmidium tuberculatum).—Resistant.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of theshrub class, substantially as herein shown and described.